Overview
- Apple announced Japan-specific changes to allow third-party app stores and alternative payments to comply with the Mobile Software Competition Act.
- Epic CEO Tim Sweeney criticized the approach as superficial openness that preserves Apple’s control over distribution and payments.
- Sweeney said Apple would levy an additional 5% fee on revenue from apps distributed through competing stores.
- He also claimed Apple would enforce transaction monitoring via mandatory interfaces, calling the charges “garbage fees.”
- Saying the fee structure is unacceptable, Epic confirmed it will not return Fortnite to iOS in Japan in 2025.